The Waves Ltd. PuigTec MEQ-5 is a mid range EQ plug-in that comes in a number of Waves bundles, namely the Jack Joseph Puig Analog Legends pack. The plug-in is designed to be a software version of the Pultec equalizer of the same name. It's also meant to be a compliment to the EQP-1A program equalizer, a software version of which also appears in this bundle. No matter which bundle you get the plug-in in, you're going to install it all at once which should be quite simple as I didn't have any problems installing it along with the rest of the complete bundle of Waves plug-ins. It's interface is really simple and is a direct copy of it's hardware counterpart, consisting of three bands each with their own frequency and gain parameters. Two of them are just for boosting and one is for cutting. You don't have complete control over the frequencies as they are preset fixed frequencies. A manual shouldn't be necessary at all. SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE I've currently got the Waves Ltd. PuigTec MEQ-5 plug-in running in my Pro Tools 9 based home studio. I run it on a Mac Book Pro computer that has a 2.2 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 4 GB of RAM, while I've got Pro Tools 9 running with a Digi 002 rack version audio interface. I haven't had any problems at all running the PuigTec MEQ-5 within this system, and would think that most people would be in the same boat, but as always it's hard to predict how it will run on lesser systems. OVERALL OPINION The Waves Ltd. PuigTec MEQ-5 is probably the most realistic software version of this Pultec model that I've used. It has a great overall sound, regardless of how you would compare it to the original. Bomb Factory and Nomad Factory also have versions of the MEQ-5, but this is definitely my favorite. It has a very accurate interface and shouldn't be hard to use even if you haven't used any original Pultecs. As far as in the box EQ'ing goes, this is a great tool even when not comparing it to other Pultecs. The JJP Analog Legends bundle is one definitely worth checking out, especially if you love software modeled after real analog gear as I do...
The Waves Ltd. PuigTec EQP-1A is an equalizer plug-in that's designed by Jack Joseph Puig and Waves, and of course modeled after the legendary Pultec EQP-1A Program EQ. I don't believe that the plug-in is available outside of buying a full bundle, with the JJP Analog Legends bundle being it's origin. It's also available in a number of other larger bundles from Waves. You'll install it along with whatever bundle you get it in, which shouldn't be a hard process in the least. Using the plug-in should be even simpler, even if you aren't familiar with the Pultec make up. It's about as simple a make up as you'll find in an EQ, and is one that has been copied by countless plug-ins and outboard EQ's. It consists of two bands, each with parameters for boost and attenuation, a well as a certain number of fixed frequencies to choose from on each. It also has a bandwidth parameter for setting how wide or small you want the Q to be, as well as an overall gain parameter which isn't something found on the original Pultec... SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE Right now I've got the Waves Ltd. PuigTec EQP-1A running on my system at home, although it's not the only place I've used it. My home studio is Pro Tools HD 9, which I run on a Mac Book Pro laptop consisting of a 2.2 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 4 GB of RAM. I run Pro Tools with a Digi 002R audio interface and monitor with a set of ADAM A7's. I've also used this plug-in on our systems at the studio where I work, which are all Pro Tools HD based. I can't say that I've ever had a problem running this plug-in on either system, as both have been adequate enough to run it smoothly. OVERALL OPINION The Waves Ltd. PuigTec EQP-1A is one of my favorite versions of the Pultec EQP-1A Program EQ, as it's quite solid and very useful for inside the box mixing. Using a Pultec in any form is super simple and I feel like this simplicity almost always helps to yield good results as there isn't too much here to get confused with. It's overall sound is pretty impressive for a software EQ as it's got a nice and warm feel. It's more realistic sounding than some of the other ones out there, as I like this one better than both the Bomb Factory and Nomad Factory versions of the EQP-1A. If you like plug-ins that are modeled after real gear, the JJP Analog Legends bundle is an absolute must try as you'll get this stellar EQP-1A in there!
